Acnologia was out of it, he and his hatchlings had been so for the past three weeks. Tartaros had hurt them the most. Everyone gave them space and time. 

The guildhall had been rebuilt... again, but it was quiet these days, no one really felt like bickering or arguing, no one debated or threatened, the guildhall was quiet, and everyone hated it.

Acnologia hadn't left the bar, he didn't drink anything; he just sat there. Erik was in the rafters as usual, and he wouldn't come down. Sting was barely in the guildhall, he only returned to eat and sleep, the rest of the time he was occupied with jobs... solo jobs, sometimes even leaving Lector behind. Rogue distracted himself by catering to Frosch, he took the exceed out shopping, out eating, he spent every jewel he had trying to distract himself... even Frosch noticed. Gajeel was in a corner, he would sit there eating metal, that's it, just staring into space and eating metal. Laxus was himself, going out for jobs, but he never messed around anymore, he couldn't bring himself to smile. Natsu and Happy left to beat up a few baddies and hadn't returned, no one was worried, he was Natsu... what could happen? The dragon slayer that everyone worried about the most was Wendy... she was silent, always silent.

"Do something Acnologia," Kinana urged sitting next to the dragon slayer.

"Leave me be," Acnologia growled.

Mira slammed her fist on the counter, "Do not growl at my bar, rule number one."

"Have I ever given a damn about rules?" Acnologia growled his large blue bangs hiding his face.

Outside a storm raged, rain pattered at the windows and the wind howled. Everyone was looking at Juvia.

"Th-this isn't Juvia's fault, Juvia is innocent," Juvia defended.

"Yeah, stopping blaming her!" Gray scowled.

"Oh, Gray-Sama is defending Juvia... Juvia is so happy!" Juvia cried embracing Gray.

"You're so creepy!" Gray cried.

"Oh Juvia darling, when will you embrace me in such a way?" Lyon cried.

"Wendy has been out in that rain all day, I tried to get Erik to go out after her, but he says that she wants to be alone!" Kinana hissed.

"She wants to be alone," Acnologia growled.

"Everyone is hurting, Laxus won't buy a drink, Erik won't come down, Wendy won't come in, Sting won't stay in, Rogue won't keep Jewel in his pocket, Natsu hasn't come home, and Gajeel is stress eating in the corner!" Mira whispered pointing to the dragon slayer.

Gajeel looked up from his metal disk, "No I'm not," he scoffed.

"Your point?" Acnologia asked.

"You need to do something, at least get Wendy in before she catches a cold!" Kinana cried.

"She's the sky dragon, she doesn't need a babysitter," Acnologia growled.

"No, but she needs a parent. She just lost one and you're here feeling sorry for yourself!"

"Do you know what I just went through!?"

"No, but do you know what Wendy just went through, what all of them just went to. You're the freaking Dragon of the Apocalypse, parenting shouldn't be too hard."

"A true parent is a saint, and do I look like one to you!?"

"No, but you do look like a father."

Acnologia muttered a few swear words. There was a flash of lightning followed by a crack of thunder that shook the guildhall. Acnologia got to his feet and walked across the guildhall.

"Where are you going?" Makarov asked.

Acnologia only gave an inhuman growl as he threw the doors open, a great wind blew through the guildhall and ran pounded on the wooden floor. The Dragon King stepped into the downpour and went to calm the other storm that raged in his heart.

Acnologia knew exactly where to find Wendy. She was sitting on the monkey bars in a park. Her feet dangled below her as she looked up at the sky completely unafraid of the storm and wind.

Acnologia jumped up and sat down next to the dragon slayer. The wind blew harshly and the rain came down in harsh waves. Wendy was soaked as was Acnologia, but she wasn't deterred, she sat still enjoying the storm.

"Do you want to do something fun?" Acnologia asked over the storm.

"Like what?" she asked distantly.

Acnologia gestured for her to follow and led her into the forest and up to a hill. There they overlooked the empty town.

"What are we gonna do?" Wendy asked over the howling wind.

"Fly," Acnologia laughed releasing his bottled up emotions.

"How?"

"I'll teach you," Acnologia smiled. He began instructing Wendy on winds, and how to ride and manipulate them. She got into position.

"Ready?" Acnologia asked transforming.

"Yeah," Wendy said thinking of nothing but the exhilaration before her.

"Go!" Acnologia laughed pushing off, Wendy did the same. A blast of wind pushed both upward; Wendy manipulated the wind around her and began to soar through the storm. Acnologia flew below Wendy ready to catch her if she fell. Wendy was laughing as she flew. She had been able to fly while in her dragon force, but that had been a very stressful period of time, now she could enjoy it.

Wendy soared through the air, doing flips, barrel rolls, and many more stunts. Acnologia's heart soared with her, he didn't see Wendy flying, he saw a dragon... he saw Grandeeney; she was the one who had taught him this. A pang of longing struck his heart, but it was quickly dispelled when Wendy laughed and soared into the clouds. Acnologia flapped his wings and followed.

Above the storm, the air was still and calm as the sun shone brilliantly overhead. Wendy flew upwards a few yards alongside Acnologia before free-falling back down.

When they reached the windy storm they rode the winds once more, the citizens of Magnolia knew nothing about what was happening.

Erik looked up at the guild roof listening to his young sister's laughter, a smile pulled at his lips.

Laxus was enjoying the storm as well; he caught a few lightning strikes and ate them. The Raijinshu were inside fairy hills, he was on top of it when two familiar figures caught his eyes. He smiled as Acnologia and Wendy soared above him oblivious to his watchful gaze.

Sting was lost in thought, sitting in a tree to avoid the rain; his mind kept showing him the image of Acnologia slaughtering Wiesslogia. He wasn't sure what to think anymore. 

There was laughter above him, he looked up and saw Wendy fly threw the sky above him; he blinked to make sure he wasn't seeing things, then Acnologia flew overhead making the wind increase. Sting leaned back on the trunk allowing the turmoil within him to settle.

Rogue had just bought himself hot cocoa, Frosch had gotten the same thing. They both sat inside the cafe looking out at the harsh storm that raged. There was a lightning strike that lit up the sky; Rogue briefly saw Acnologia and Wendy soaring towards the clouds, the lightning strike ended and the sky faded to darkness once more. The memory was ingrained in Rogue's mind, he couldn't help but smile.

Gajeel was out in the rain, he was watching the two spiral through the air, a smile on his face. He didn't even care if he rusted. It had been a few weeks since he had seen Wendy smile that true a smile.

"Natsu... when are we gonna go home?" Happy asked dejectedly looking at the small fish he had caught.

"I don't know Happy, I want to train first. I want to become stronger."

"Okay, but get stronger quick, I need Juvia to catch me a fish," Happy sighed.

"She doesn't catch you fish, she just floods the river and strands them... and it's usually on accident!" Natsu objected.

"She lets me catch really big ones," Happy dreamed.

"I catch you big ones!" Natsu cried.

"This is amazing!" Wendy shouted as she barrel-rolled.

"It is," Acnologia agreed.

"I wish..." Wendy said, then she seemed to think better of it.

"What?"

"I wish we could back to the days when it was just us against the world before life got so... complicated," Wendy smiled whispering. Acnologia could hear her through the rain. He pondered for a moment and then smiled.

"I can make that happen"

Acnologia landed at the guild entrance, "Erik, Gajeel, we're going on vacation!" he roared over the wind.

Erik jumped down looking out the open doors that Wendy had blown open. She was sitting on Acnologia's back, "Come on Oniichan!" she laughed.

Erik looked back to Kinana, "I'll be back," he promised.

"I have no doubt," Kinana smiled waving goodbye

"You just had to say so old man," Gajeel smiled leaping up and jumping on Acnologia's back, Erik did the same.

"Let's do this," Pantherlily laughed flying after Gajeel.

"You better no forget me," Charle scolded landing on Wendy's lap.

"Never Charle," Wendy coaxed.

"Come on: let's go get Sting-Kun!" Lector laughed landing on Acnologia's back.

"Off to get your brothers."

Rogue had always expected destruction when his family was in town, he just wasn't expecting two of his brother to jump through the cafe door, shatter a table, grab him by his arms and throw him on his Uncle's back. Frosch laughed and landed in his arms before they went airborne.

"What the *input word* is going on!?" Rogue cried swearing in draconian.

"Vacation," Wendy laughed.

"Laxus!" Acnologia roared not even bothering to stop.

Laxus smiled from the roof, he jumped down onto the asphalt and threw the window to his teammate's room open.

"Hey guys, I'm gonna be gone for a little while," Laxus said.

"Safe travels!" Bickslow laughed.

"Good luck Laxus-san!" Freed smiled.

"Don't you dare get hurt!" Evergreen yelled as Laxus went into his lightning body form and threw himself into the sky. He landed on Acnologia's back and smiled.

Sting was ready; he had already guessed what was happening. He jumped up, right as Lector flew overhead. Lector caught him and flew him to Acnologia's back.

"How are we gonna find Natsu?" Sting asked

"Find the path of destruction," Laxus chuckled.

Natsu hadn't meant to destroy the mountain... it had just kinda happened. One minute he was looking over the wreckage of the mountain, the next a shadow descended on him and he found himself in a large black claw looking down at the world below.

"WHAT THE HELL!" Natsu cried.

"Hey Natsu, we're going to train," Acnologia laughed.

"Uncle!?"

"What did you think; some random giant bird picked you up and carried you over the freakin continent?" Sting laughed.

"We're gonna go train together," Wendy smiled.

"Like a family," Laxus said softly.

"Look at you, gaining a soft spot," Erik teased.

"Shut up!" Laxus bit.

"Aw it's okay little Kaida, life can make rocks into cinnamon rolls," Erik nodded patting Laxus's hair.

"You're about three seconds away from death," Laxus threatened.

"Kaidas UNITE!" Sting cheered.

"AYE SIR!" Happy laughed flying alongside Acnologia.

"We just need one more," Acnologia roared giving another burst of speed.

"Here we come, Serena!" Wendy cheered throwing her hands in the air as they sped over the continent.